An account manager is a sales professional who deals with a specific group of customers. This kind of professional normally sees that the customers he or she is responsible for are happy with the services provided. The account manager may also be responsible for gaining new customers with which he or she will also be responsible for working. In order to become an account manager, it can be helpful to have the right kind of personality that allows you to be likable, charismatic, and motivated. It may also be necessary to have an education related to sales and marketing or plenty of experience in a related field or position.
An individual who is most likely to become an account manager and excel at the job is one who is able to communicate well with others. Likewise, he or she is normally one with whom clients want to work. For this reason, it is helpful if a professional who hopes to become an account manager is comfortable communicating with others and may even have what is known as a magnetic personality. The ability to earn the trust of others is also an important skill to have.
There is no degree that allows an individual to specialize in becoming an account manager, though there are degrees and courses that focus on marketing, sales, and business communication. Many employers who are looking for account managers may expect to see these kinds of credentials on the resumes of job candidates. At the same time, it is important to remember that some of the best professionals in this field may seem to be natural salespeople.
Many employers believe that experience is far more important than education. Proponents of this perspective believe that an individual cannot be taught to become an account manager, but must instead have the right personality and must also have learned from trial and error. For this reason, years in sales, developing relationships with various clients, can be a great way to prepare for an account manager position.
Interviews are normally necessary prior to getting a job as an account manager. While a resume or application may also be required, the interview can be the most important aspect since it can give you an opportunity to show a prospective employer how well you can sell yourself. It can be helpful to research the business for which you wish to work prior to the interview. The information you gather can help you to answer the questions in a way that is relevant to the position and show an interviewer that you are already engaged with the company.
